Systems and methods for blockchain wireless services in a controlled environment

ABSTRACT

A method of providing blockchain wireless services in a controlled environment is provided. The method comprises a wireless communication device associated with an inmate of a controlled environment receiving one of a voice and video call from a device external to the controlled environment. The method further comprises the device placing the received call into a hold state and sending a request for validation of the call via a blockchain, the request identifying at least parties to the call. The method further comprises the device, upon receipt of validation, removing the call from the hold state; and enabling at least one of voice and video functionality for the parties. The method further comprises the wireless communication device sending the request for validation to a telecommunications server and the server conducting real time monitoring of the call. The method further comprises the device continuously recording the call.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.17/873,030, filed on Jul. 25, 2022, which claims the benefit of U.S.Pat. No. 11,425,244, filed on Sep. 26, 2021, which claims the benefit ofU.S. Pat. No. 11,140,263, filed on Nov. 20, 2020, which claims thebenefit of U.S. Pat. No. 10,855,838, filed May 14, 2020, which claimsthe benefit of U.S. Pat. No. 10,694,032, filed Jul. 21, 2019, whichclaims the benefit of U.S. provisional application 62/714,737 filed Aug.5, 2018, each of which is incorporated by reference herein in itsentirety.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTINGCOMPACT DISK APPENDIX

Not Applicable

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure is in the technical field of telecommunicationsservices. More particularly, the present disclosure is in the technicalfield of wireless telecommunications services provided in controlledenvironments.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a controlled environment wireless system andprovides systems and methods of utilizing a blockchain network forproviding, managing and administering a controlled environment wirelesssystem.

BACKGROUND

Telecommunications services for inmates and other detainees in prisonsand other controlled environments is a controversial and importantsubject. Inmates have a right and deserve to regularly communicate withat least family members and providers of legal services. Wardens andother supervisors of controlled environments must provide such servicesbut are responsible for security of inmates and employees. Wirelessdevices in controlled environments present particular challenges as theyare small and can therefore be concealed and moved about easily.

In traditional telecommunications systems of controlled environments,the administrative costs involved in recording and maintaining dataassociated with inmate phone use are limited by the number of phonekiosks in the controlled environment. This number is typically small andtherefore makes it reasonable to maintain such administration via asingle conventional, centralized computing center, whether located onsite in the correctional facility or in a remote site. However, as thenumber of these telecommunication devices and the complexity of thesystem increases with the introduction of mobile devices to prisoners,inmates, arrestees, residents or other detainees in controlledenvironments, the amount of cost and complexity involved in maintainingthe records and monitoring permissions increases significantly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system of blockchain wireless services ina controlled environment according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Systems and methods described herein provide for a wirelesscommunication device in possession of a detainee confined to acontrolled environment to securely place and receive wireless voice anddata transmissions to and from parties outside the environment via useof blockchain technology. A call, whether incoming or outgoing, includesinformation associated with a transaction to be stored in a blockchain.The blockchain is updated by disseminating the transaction informationthrough a multipath wireless mesh network to other wireless devices inpossession of fellow inmates. Prison management and others also receivethe transaction information.

The wireless device in possession of the detainee acts as a blockchainnode. The device further acts as a network node in a wireless meshnetwork or multipath wireless mesh network. The mesh networks operate onone or more of a Wi-Fi network, a radio frequency network, or via use ofother mobile ad hoc network-capable technology.

A blockchain is a database that is distributed among multiple computingdevices. A blockchain is formed from blocks, with each block havinginformation related to a transaction and linking the block to a priorblock in the chain. The devices can each have respective copies of theblockchain, so that no centralized or official copy of the blockchainexists and the devices are trusted equally. When a user engages in atransaction, some or all devices may verify the transaction. Afterverification, the devices can include information related to thetransaction into their respective copies of the blockchain.

Blockchain technology allows a network of computers to agree at regularintervals on the true state of a distributed ledger. The ledger isdistributed across many participants in the network. The ledger does notexist in any one place. Instead, copies exist and are simultaneouslyupdated with every fully participating node in the ecosystem.

Blockchain technology use in a multipath wireless network as describedherein may distribute requirements of a telecommunication system to manydistributed nodes. Blockchain may therefore reduce burden on processing,network and storage systems of a correctional facility. By enabling themobile devices within a controlled environment as blockchain nodes aswell as multipath wireless network nodes, not only can much of thecomputing power be offloaded from a facility's systems but the facilitymay safely and securely maintain the same control and oversight aspreviously available.

Recordkeeping and regulation of inmate device use may be distributed asprovided herein, with security and computing power increasing as asystem grows. By distributing a blockchain ledger among nodes in aclosed system of a controlled environment, not only is the computingpower distributed across nodes, but the records of the transactionswithin a system may also be distributed and replicated. This structuremay promote redundancies and failsafe options not previously available.

A distributed blockchain system creates a more permanent and unalterablerecord than a single database could, while allowing more nodes tofunction simultaneously. Distributed systems promoted by blockchaintechnology provide controlled environments the potential to distributeregulation of the system by giving the nodes the ability to regulatethemselves anonymously from each other and transparent to thoseadministering a controlled environment. Not only can more devices besupported, but they can be supported with fewer resources and increasedsecurity.

Blockchain may also reduce costs of running a secure network which isimportant in publicly funded institutions such as controlledenvironments. Because blockchain verifies trustworthiness, a centralizedserver does not need to handle this task. Friction of transactions isreduced, promoting cost and time savings.

Turning to the FIGURES, FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system ofblockchain wireless services in a controlled environment according to anembodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 1 depicts components of asystem 100 provided herein including a telecommunications server 10, acontrol application 12, a blockchain node application 14, and a meshnetwork node application 16.

The system 100 also comprises a database 18, a network 20, an externalcommunication device 22, an external mesh network application 24, and ablockchain wallet or node application 26. The system 100 also comprisesa radio frequency network 28, a Wi-Fi network 30, and a controlledenvironment 32.

The system 100 also comprises wireless communication devices 34, 46, 48,50. Inmate mesh network node applications 36 a-d and blockchain networknode applications 38 a-d are also provided by the system 100 which arecomponents, respectively, of the wireless communication devices 34, 46,48, 50. The system 100 further comprises a monitoring and managementstation 40, a monitoring application 42, a management application 44, anadministrative mesh network node application 52, and an administrativeblockchain node application 54.

Discussion herein regarding the wireless communication device 34 appliesto the wireless communication devices 46, 48, 50 unless otherwise noted.Discussion herein regarding the inmate mesh network node application 36a and blockchain network node application 38 a applies to the inmatemesh network node applications 36 b-d and blockchain network nodeapplications 38 b-d, respectively, unless otherwise noted.

The controlled environment 32 may be a penal facility, correctionalfacility, rehabilitation center, jail, prison, holding cell, halfwayhouse, or hospital. The controlled environment 32 may be a penitentiary,camp, detention center, or other facility operated by a federal, state,provincial, municipal, military, or other public body or agency. Thecontrolled environment 32 may alternatively be privately operated undercontract with a court, correctional agency or other public body. In anembodiment, the controlled environment 32 may be a public hospital orother institution in which non-offending persons reside as wards of astate, province, municipality or other public body.

The wireless communication device 34 is associated with an inmate,detainee or other resident of a controlled environment 32 and originatesand receives wireless communications for the inmate. The communicationsinclude information associated with transactions to be included in theblockchain. The blockchain is updated by propagating transactioninformation through one or more of a multi-path wireless mesh networkand wireless mesh network to at least other inmate-associated wirelesscommunication devices 46, 48, 50. The wireless communication devices 34,46, 48, 50 may be mobile phones, cell phones, mobile computing devices,smartphones, desktop computers, laptop computers, tablet computers,custodial telephones, kiosks, or video communication stations.

A wireless system of the controlled environment 32 may be a wirelessmesh network or multipath wireless mesh network. The wireless system mayoperate on at least one Wi-Fi network 30, radio frequency network 28, orother mobile ad hoc network capable technology.

The wireless communication devices 34, 46, 48, 50 may act as wirelessmesh network nodes or multipath wireless network nodes using at leastthe inmate mesh network node applications 36 a-d, respectively. Thewireless communication devices 34, 46, 48, 50 may act as blockchainnodes using at least the blockchain network node applications 38 a-d,respectively.

The monitoring and management station 40 is a collection of processesexecuting on at least one computer enabling creation, removal, andenforcement of restrictions, verifications, configurations, andauthorizations of inmates, visitors, and other persons. Devices may bevalidated, added, or removed from the multipath wireless mesh network byadministrators of the station 40. Transactions may be inspected,analyzed, validated, monitored, and renewed by such administrators.

Administrators include wardens, guards, orderlies, prison staff,jailers, information technology professionals, system administrators,and law enforcement agents. Such administrators may manage various dataitems associated with inmates which may include altering restrictionsapplicable to inmates. Such restrictions include device userestrictions, inmate use restrictions, and inmate contact restrictions.

The monitoring application 42 and the management application 44 executeon the station 40. The monitoring application 42 is used by authorizedpersons to listen to outgoing or incoming detainee calls on a live orrecorded basis. These authorized persons may use electronic tools usedin various forensic activities. These activities include assisting inthe detection of prohibited behavior by detainees, outside parties, andothers including penal officers who may be violating or compromisingpenal facility regulations.

The management application 44 is used by authorized parties to configurethe control application 12 and manipulate files stored in the database18 and elsewhere. In addition to adding, removing and changing detaineecalling privileges, schedules and accounts, these actions compriseadding and deleting phone numbers and other contact information detailsof external devices 22 and associated persons authorized to speak withdetainees.

System administrators may use a browser as a “front end” or clientsoftware tool provided by the management application 44 to access thecontrol application 12, the database 18 and other components. Themanagement application 44 may provide simplified web forms to adddetainees and make other program changes. System administrators may bewardens, senior correction officials, or others that develop andimplement policies regarding program administration as a whole.

The station 40 and its components may be located inside, outside or bothinside and outside the controlled environment 32. The administrativeblockchain node application 52 executes at least partially on thestation 40 and provides administrators authority to validate, add,remove the wireless communication device 34 from the blockchain.

The administrative blockchain node 54 allows for truncating and pruningthe controlled environment blockchain ledger. The pruned portion isremoved from the wireless communication devices 34 and a new controlledenvironment blockchain ledger is created. The pruned data remains on atleast one of the administrative blockchain node 54 and the database 18.All configuration data of the wireless communication devices 34 are thenadded to the new controlled environment blockchain ledger. Pruning andtruncation of the blockchain ledger may take place at scheduledintervals, based on ledger size or other measures, or on an ad hocbasis. The monitoring and management station 40 also functions as anadministrative mesh network node application 52.

External communication devices 22, which may, for example, be used byfamily members or attorneys authorized to contact an inmate, may callthe inmate directly on the inmate's wireless device 34. External devices22 may be wireless telephones, computers, and tablet devices. Theexternal device 22 may interact with the telecommunications server 10and the control application 12 to establish such contact. While thetelecommunications server 10 and its components are illustrated in FIG.1 as external to the controlled environment 32, in embodiments thetelecommunications server 10 may be physically situated inside thecontrolled environment 32.

The telecommunication server 10 may further act as at least one of awireless mesh network node and a multipath wireless mesh node 14. Thetelecommunications server 10 may also function as a blockchain node 16

The telecommunications server 10 and the control application 12executing thereon manage communications between external devices 22 andcomponents inside the controlled environment 32. These managementactivities include inspecting, analyzing, validating, securing,monitoring, recording, and encrypting communications between theexternal devices 22 and the controlled environment 32. The wirelesscommunications devices 34, 46, 48, 50 may also perform these activities.

The wireless communications devices 34, 46, 48, 50 further validate,extract, convert, compress, encrypt, and insert data and meta-dataassociated with transmissions and transactions of external devices 22into the controlled environment blockchain ledger. External devices 22may be designated as trusted devices, illustrated in FIG. 1 as meshnetwork node application 24 for inclusion into the multipath wirelessmesh network.

Configuration data and meta-data for wireless communications devices 34,46, 48, 50 is added to the blockchain ledger in the form oftransactions. Such configuration data and meta-data may comprise inmateinformation including name and ID, inmate commissary and banking data,SIM identifiers for the devices 34, 46, 48, 50, MAC addresses, and phonenumbers. The data and meta-data may also include device identifiers suchas IMIE and IP addresses, GPS coordinates, approved contact information,approved applications, approved websites, and validation and biometricinformation that may include fingerprints, voice prints, and facialrecognition data.

Transactions are validated by at least one blockchain node 38 a-d, 14,26, 54 and added to the blockchain ledger. Transactions include data andmeta-data associated with voice calls, video conferences, text messages,voice mail messages, GPS coordinates, data, and alerts. Transactionsalso include data and meta-data associated with accesses andinteractions with web pages, multimedia files, forms and applications,shared data such as transaction records, transaction attributes,credentials, communication files, and other items of information.

An external device 22 may initiate a transaction, including a voice orvideo session, with a wireless communication device 34. Transactionsalso include the other types of electronic interactions describedimmediately above. The device 34, upon receipt of the incomingcommunication, places the session into a hold state, and sends a requestfor validation via the blockchain and to the telecommunications server10. The request may be validated via the blockchain and thetelecommunications server 10 may request and initiate monitoring as partof the validation if monitoring is desired, but validation by theblockchain may not be the sole source of validation. The requestcontains identification of parties to the call. The telecommunicationsserver 10 may request and initiate a conference call if real-timemonitoring is desired.

Upon receipt of validation, the device 34 removes the call from holdstate. The inmate may then begin his/her the voice or video session withthe caller using the external device 22. The device 34 may record thecall.

The recording of the session is continuously validated via theblockchain network to remain within the multipath wireless mesh network.The continuous validation may ensure than any failure of conference callor data upload is remedied by streaming the audio via the multipathwireless mesh network.

Recording of the call and video session between the external device 22and the wireless communication device 34 is distributed via at least oneof the multipath wireless mesh network, the Wi-Fi network 30, and thecellular network 28 to one or more of the database 18 and the blockchainledger. As part of the continuous confirmation during the session,meta-data for the recording is added to the blockchain ledger.

Validation may comprise adding a blockchain-based smart contract to theblockchain as discussed in detail below. Use of the smart contractfacilitates payment by the inmate for communications services.

Inmates using the device 34, 46, 48, 50 may conversely initiate atransaction, which may include a voice or video session or othertransaction as defined above, to an external device 22 that may be inpossession of a family member, for example. Similar to calls initiatedby the external device 22, the device 34 sends a request for validationvia the blockchain and to the telecommunications server 10 advising ofthe parties to the call. The telecommunications server 10 may initiate aconference call if real time monitoring is desired.

Upon validation, the call from the device 34 in possession of the inmateto the external device 22 is completed. The device 34 records the callas previously.

Recording of the call and video session to the external device 22initiated by the wireless communication device 34 is distributed via atleast one of the multipath wireless mesh network, the Wi-Fi network 30,and the cellular network 28 to one or more of the database 18 and theblockchain ledger. As part of the continuous confirmation during thesession, meta-data for the recording is added to the blockchain ledger.

The recording of the session initiated by the device 34 is continuouslyvalidated via the blockchain network to remain within the multipathwireless mesh network. As previously, the continuous validation mayensure than any failure of conference call or data upload is remedied bystreaming the audio via the multipath wireless mesh network.

A blockchain-based smart contract is filled in with necessaryinformation on the device 34 when the device 34 is involved in anoutgoing or incoming call or other transaction as defined herein. Tokenspurchased previously may be withdrawn from a blockchain wallet accountand/or banking account of the inmate and inserted into the contract.

The smart contract is validated and added to the blockchain network bythe network of nodes as part of the validation process. Upon attemptingof the voice or video call, the contract is executed depending on theoutcome of the call. Outcomes include at least one of call failure, noanswer, voicemail received, and call completion. Upon completion of thecall, coins or funds are released to at least one of a controlledenvironment wireless system service provider, the facility of thecontrolled environment 32, and caller depending on rules described inthe contract.

The external device 22 acting as a blockchain wallet or node 26 mayrequest a session with the device 34 of an inmate by generating ablockchain enforced communications request. The request is generated bycreating a transaction containing the desired scheduling details. Thedetails comprise at least one name of the requesting party, the name ofthe inmate to be contacted, the inmate ID, requested date and start timeof the call, and contact details of the requesting party.

The desired scheduling details are inserted into the blockchain alongwith payment tokens. The tokens may be pre-purchased or available inaccount balances of an external party. The tokens may also be availablein an inmate's commissary or other approved banking account of thecontrolled environment 32.

The processing of the blockchain enforced communications requestcontinues upon validation of the external device 22 as an authorizedinmate contact. Validation is completed by at least one of the severalcomponents including the device 34 of the inmate, the telecommunicationserver 10, and the control application 12. Validation takes place priorto passing of the request through to the controlled environment wirelesssystem.

Validation of voice and video calling as well as other transactions asdefined herein may include review of other restrictions on an inmate'suse of the device 34. The restrictions comprise limitations based on thetime of day, day of week, controlled environment restrictions, and otherrestrictions determined by authorities of the controlled environment.

Continuing with actions associated with a request by the external device22 for a communications session, upon validation the requestedscheduling transaction is added to the blockchain ledger. The request issent to wireless device 34, 46, 48, 50 that is the intended recipient.Confirmation is sent to the external device 22 of the requesting party.

When a communication between the external device 22 and the device 34 inpossession of an inmate is completed according to set parameters, thedeposited tokens are released to the controlled environment wirelesssystem service provider. Otherwise the tokens may be released back tothe walled that created the communications request.

Information associated with transactions is converted into an internetprotocol (IP)-based format to assist in generating formattedinformation. The blockchain network may be one of a public blockchain, aprivate blockchain, and a consortium blockchain. Nodes on the blockchainmay be one of an administrative node, a mandatory node, and an optionalnode.

The blockchain network may use at least one of a centralized ledger, apermissioned distributed ledger, and a permissionless ledger.Transactions may be at least one of compressed and encrypted.

System and methods described herein provide for the wirelesscommunication device 34, 46, 48, 50 to record a voice or video sessioninstead of the database 18. Further, the call is validated via theblockchain to allow error correction to insure the call continues. Uponcompletion, the recording is then stored in one or more of theblockchain and the central database 18 and the meta-data is added to theblockchain.

What is claimed is:
 1. A blockchain-based system to secure, manage, andvalidate forensic data in controlled environments, comprising: at leasttwo blockchains in a controlled environment, the blockchainsinterconnected and networked but segregated; a plurality of user nodes,each node with selected permission levels to at least one of submit dataand retrieve data; and at least one administrative blockchain nodefunctioning within a monitoring and management station that:communicates and coordinates formatting of data and submission of datato and retrieval of data from the blockchains, may create and manage atleast one smart contract that regulates creation, access, andmodification of data; and enters and changes rules, settings, andpermissions relating to blockchain data, interaction, security, andaccess.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein each blockchain stores andvalidates at least one of compressed and uncompressed data, encryptedand unencrypted data, and partial and complete data files.
 3. The systemof claim 1, wherein each blockchain further stores and validates atleast one of hashes of data files and inmate transaction data andmetadata.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the administrativeblockchain node further at least one of accesses and incorporates dataanalysis tools.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the administrativeblockchain node further selectively requires a cryptographic signatureto access the blockchains.
 6. A blockchain-based system to manageforensic data in controlled environments, comprising: a plurality ofblockchains in a controlled environment, the blockchains interconnectedand networked but segregated; a plurality of user nodes, each node withselected permission levels to at least one of submit data and retrievedata; and at least one administrative blockchain node functioning withina monitoring and management station that: communicates and coordinatesformatting of data and submission of data to and retrieval of data fromthe blockchains, may create and manage at least one smart contract thatregulates creation, access, and modification of data, and enters andchanges rules, settings, and permissions relating to blockchain data,interaction, security, validation, and access.
 7. The system of claim 6,wherein each blockchain supports a different forensic data type and eachblockchain has a unique security profile and security characteristics.8. The system of claim 6, wherein a first blockchain of the at least twoblockchains supports sensitive forensic data types and wherein data onthe first blockchain is encrypted by the at least one administrativeblockchain node.
 9. The system of claim 8, wherein access to a firstforensic data stored in the first blockchain is protected by limits tothe access and is protected by limits to interaction with the firstforensic data and with code of the first blockchain.
 10. The system ofclaim 8, wherein the first forensic data comprises at least one of butis not limited to criminal evidence, inmate medical records, financialrecords, complaints, legal case data, blockchain wallet use, and keys.11. The system of claim 8, wherein the first blockchain is accessible byprivate, monitored nodes.
 12. The system of claim 6, wherein a secondblockchain of the at least two blockchains supports private data but notsensitive data, the data subject to encryption.
 13. The system of claim12, wherein access to a second forensic data stored in the secondblockchain is protected by limits to the access and is protected bylimits to interaction with the first forensic data and with code of thefirst blockchain.
 14. The system of claim 12, wherein the secondforensic data comprises but is not limited to at least one of detaineehousing assignments, job assignments, job performance, approved calllists, media use, and application access rights.
 15. The system of claim12, wherein the second blockchain one of uses private, monitored nodesand does not use private, monitored nodes.
 16. The system of claim 6,wherein a third blockchain of the at least two blockchains supportsnon-sensitive data that is one of encrypted and non-encrypted andwherein limited controls govern read and write access and execution ofcode of the third blockchain.
 17. The system of claim 16, wherein thethird blockchain supports access to and interaction with at least one ofdetainee users inside the controlled environment and non-detainee usersoutside the controlled environment.
 18. The system of claim 16, whereinthe third blockchain permits access by public nodes and stores at leastone of forensic data and non-forensic data.
 19. The system of claim 6,wherein the administrative blockchain node further at least one ofaccesses and incorporates data analysis tools.
 20. The system of claim6, wherein the administrative blockchain node further selectivelyrequires a cryptographic signature to access the blockchains.